CONTENTS

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has expressed his wish to see
progress in the Cyprus peace talks, noting that, to this effect, he is
talking to the leaders of the two communities on the island.

É want to see progress in Cyprus. I have talked to President
Christofias on a number of occasions. About that he has visited London
and we have considered what we can do to help. We made an offer about
the Bases and what we can do to help to make possible an agreement as a
result of our actions, he said speaking at a press conference.

Now, he added, I am going to talk to Mr Talat (Turkish Cypriot leader)
and obviously, I am talking to Mr Papandreou and Mr Erdogan about the
very issue.

So, I am very anxious to push things forward. I think there is a need
to deal with this problem that was not solved by the Annan proposals a
few years ago but where there is good will I hope we can make some
progress, he concluded.

Christofias and Talat have been engaged in UN-led peace talks since
September last year, in an effort to find a negotiated settlement that
will reunite Cyprus, which has been divided since the 1974 Turkish
invasion.

Britain is a guarantor power of Cyprus independence, in accordance with
the 1960 treaties that established the Republic of Cyprus. It maintains
two military bases on the island and recently it repeated an offer to
give up part of the bases territory, should an agreement be reached
between the two communities.

The European Parliament has called on Turkey to implement in full and
without discrimination, its commitments stemming from the Additional
Protocol to the EC-Turkey Association Agreement.

A resolution approved by the Parliament also points out that current
and potential candidate countries must continue reforming to stay on
track for EU membership. The resolution highlights the importance of
implementing judicial reform swiftly to improve the functioning of the
Turkish state and society.

MEPs regret the limited progress made in the area of freedom of
religion (non-Muslim and Alevi communities) and freedom of expression,
following the unprecedented fine imposed on a media group.

Member of the Committee of Foreign Affairs of the Swedish Parliament
Kerstin Lundgren has expressed hope that a solution to the Cyprus
problem would be found in the near future, and that the leaders of the
two communities would be brave and willing to solve the problem.

Speaking after a meeting in Nicosia with AKEL General Secretary Andros
Kyprianou, Lundgren said Turkey will have to meet its obligations
before accession to the EU, adding that efforts should be made to build
bridges, not walls.

To questions regarding Turkey`s obligations towards the EU, Lundgren
said that ``before membership,`` Turkey`s obligations ``have to be
fulfilled and we have, of course, the Copenhagen criteria as well, and
we will scrutinise, and the EU as a whole will be looking into that
very carefully.``

The House of Representatives has unanimously ratified an agreement
between the Republic of Cyprus and the Russian Federation on
cooperation in the health and medical science sector.

The agreement, which was signed in Moscow in November 2008, is expected
to contribute to enhanced bilateral relations and provide the
opportunity to utilise the Russian experience in health and medical
science matters.

It provides for the promotion of cooperation, with emphasis on health
reforms, financial and funding systems, the promotion of health and the
prevention of diseases, cardiology, food safety, control and prevention
of transmitted diseases, and the environment.